Chanukah Celebration in Sderot

On December 24th, Operation Embrace sposored a Chanukah Celebration in Sderot for families who have suffer from physical and psychological trauma from the fall of Kassam rockets.  Despite the fact that 60 Kassam rockets landed on Sderot the same day, over 200 people attended the event.  One mother called and said that when her little girls returned from the event, it was the first time that they slept through the night and that they were able to smile and really enjoy themselves.  

The celebration included lighting the Chanukah menorah, stations of activities for children, greetings from the new mayor of Sderot, David Buskila, communal singing of Chanukah Songs and a Chanukah quiz contest where prizes were given to all of the children.  Twenty volunteers who are students at Midreshet Lindenbaum in Jerusalem this year coordinated all of the childrens activities at the event.  For just a few hours, the frightening reality of living in Sderot was suspended and everyone celebrated the pure essence of Chanukah.

Pictured is Mayor David Buskila from Sderot with Aviva Tessler and Michal Feldestein,
the OE Social Worker from Sderot at the Operation Embrace Chanukah Celebration